The Village of Cumberland has received the resignation of Coun. Jesse Ketler, effective June 30, after completing her 10th year on the village council since being first elected in November 2014.
“It has been an incredible honour to work alongside such dedicated and passionate colleagues,” Ketler said. “Over the past decade, we have achieved remarkable milestones and navigated through significant changes (but) balancing the demands of council duties with my current personal responsibilities has become increasingly challenging, and I believe stepping down is the best course of action for both myself and the community we serve.”
Coun. Ketler served through a transitional period for the village, which saw considerable population and economic growth. Council successes during this time included adopting a new Official Community Plan with innovative environmental development permit tools, and capital improvements to the village’s drinking water supply and treatment systems among other things.
She contributed to the village’s path towards an environmentally sustainable method to treat the village’s sewage waste, and to holding land developers to the village’s environmental development standards.
Ketler was also appointed director to the Comox Valley Regional Board from 2018 to 2023 and served as chair for four years.
“I am sincerely grateful to Jesse for her contribution to the village and the broader Valley,” said Cumberland Mayor Vickey Brown. “Jesse was a key player in the village’s work to protect the wetlands and sensitive areas around our village core and in reducing corporate greenhouse gasses. I think I can speak on behalf of all of the council and the community when I thank Jesse for her dedication to the Village.”
The B.C. Local Government Act requires that a by-election be held to fill a vacancy in an elected local government office that occurs due to a resignation. A by-election is expected to be held in September 2024, with the candidate nomination period in August.